Oiling system for sewing machines



Sept. 29, 1931.

N. v. CHRISTENSEN 1,825,506

OILING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4' n 6 Elm (9 F 1 M .9 26 5 fi /CdZ P 29, 1931. N. v. CHRISTENSEN 1,825,506

' OILING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITEKD STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN V. CHRISTENSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS OILING SYSTEM FOR SEWING MACHINES Application filed July 10,

In my copending application, Serial Number 191,768, filed May 16, 1927, there is shown and described an oiling system for sewing machines wherein the oil is carried from a storage reservoir by pipes to the point where the actuating parts are to be lubricated and each pipe contains a wick which extends from the end of the pipe, and on which wick the oil accumulates so that it is taken by the moving part. This provided a very ready and eflicient method of lubricating the moving parts.

An object of the present invention is to provide an oiling system for sewing machines wherein all the advantages of the oiling system disclosed in my prior application may be utilized and wherein certain of the parts may be flooded with a lubricant prior to the initial starting of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oiling system of the above type wherein the lubricating oil for flooding the parts for starting the machine may be directed to the parts from points outside of an enclosing casing.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully described.

In tlie drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a sewing machine having the oiling system applied thereto, the section being taken in a plane parallel with the axisof the actuating shaft.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to the axis of the actuating shaft with a portion of the actuating link in section.

The invention is directed to an oiling system which may be utilized for flooding the parts to be actuated with a lubricant prior to the starting of the machine and wherein the same actuated parts will be automatical- 1y lubricated during the running thereof and in. proportion to the extent to which the lubricating oil may be consumed. The oiling system is shown as applied to a sewing machine for lubricating the connection between the actuating link and needle lever,

1928. Serial No. 291,534.

and also the connection between the actuating link and the crank on the main actuating shaft. The lubricating oil is supplied to these parts by a passage leading from the extreme upper end of-the link to the ball stud connection between the link and the needle lever, and by a passage leading from a point just beneath the ball stud down through the link to the crank connection with the main actuating shaft. The lubricating oil is fed to a reservoir located within the enclosing casing or frame for the actuated parts. Leadingfrom this reservoir are pipes, one of which terminates adjacent the path of movement of the upper end of the link, and the other of which terminates adjacent the path of movement of the portion of the link containing the opening leading to the recess that leads to the crank. In each pipe is placed a wick. These wicks extend to the reservoir and into the reservoir and serve as a means for feeding the lubricating oil. The oil accumulates in drop form on the wick and as the art sweeps by in its movement the drop of oil is automatically taken into the respective recess and thus the parts are automatically lubricated. Y

Also associated with these oil pipes are two other pipes which extend from the casing enclosing the actuated parts to points adjacent the wicks. These pipes are free from obstruction and open at the outer face of the enclosing casing. When the parts are stopped with the link at the upper end of its- 7 reciprocation the recess at the upper end of the link is adjacent the open lower end of one of the pipes and the recess just beneath the connection to the ball stud is adjacent the open lower end of the other pipe.

The lubricating oil placed in either pipe will pass directly through the passage to the ball stud connection and flood the parts and the lubricating oil fed to the other pipe will pass down through the link and t0 the crank connection and flood said crank connection. This is down when the parts are stationary and before the machine is started. Thus it is that the oiling system provides for the flooding of the actuating parts before starting and for automatically supplying oil to said parts during the running of the machine.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the sewing machine as illustrated includes a supporting bed 1 on which is mounted a hollow standard 2 carrying an overhanging arm 3. Mounted for rotation in said supporting bed 1 is a main actuating shaft 4. Said main actuating shaft 4 is provided with crank members 5, 5 which are connected by means of a crank pin 6. On this crank pin 6 is a detachable and reversible eccentric 7 which is rigidly secured to the crank pin. Mounted for oscillation in the overhanging arm is a needle lever 8 which is provided with a ball stud 9. A link or strap 10 is provided with a head 10a which engages the eccentric 7, and thus cooperates with the crank on the main actuating shaft. This link or strap 10 is provided with a head 10?) at its upper end which engages the ball stud 9 on the needle actuating lever. This needle actuating lever is pivoted intermediate its ends and when the link is at the upper end of its stroke as shown in Fig. 1 the needle will be at the lower end of its reciprocation. The hollow standard is closed at the upper end by means of a cap plate 11 which is preferably fixed to the standard by suitable screws.

Attached to the inner face of the cap plate is an oil reservoir 12. Mounted on top of the cap plate is an oil supply cup 13 which has a valve connection with the reservoir 12 and thus the reservoir 12 may be kept supplied with lubricating oil. Extending from the reservoir. 12 is a pipe 14. This pipe 14 leads into the reservoir at a point above the bottom thereof and extends to a point adjacent the path of reciprocation of the boss 15 formed in the link or strap 10. This boss 15 is provided with an opening 16 which leads to a passage 17 extending centrally down through the link or strap 10. This passage extends all the way through the head 10a and supplies the outer surface of the eccentric 7 with lubricating oil. Extending all the way through the pipe 14 is a wick 18. The wick 18 extends all the way through the pipe and over into the reservoir and projects from the lower end of the pipe. The lubricating oil will be fed by this wick from the reservoir and will accumulate in drop form at the end of the wick. As the link or strap 10 moves up and down through the rotation of the main actuating shaft the opening 16 will move up to the end of the wick and will engage the drop of oil on the wick causing the oil to pass through the opening 16 into the passage 17 and thus down to lubricate the crank connections.

A pipe 19 is mounted in the cap plate 11 and opens at the outer face of the cap plate. This pipe is supported by the cap plate and extends downwardly to a point adjacent the projecting wick in the pipe 14. The lower end of the pipe is open and is shaped so as to direct oil fed into the pipe from the outside of the enclosing casing into the opening 16 after the machine is stopped with the needle down and the link or strap 10 at the upper end of its stroke.

There is a third pipe 20 which is connected to the reservoir and extends to a point adjacent the path of travel of the upper end of the link. This pipe is provided with a wick leading into the reservoir and extending from the lower end of the pipe. As stated above, the upper end of the link is provided with an opening and a recess leading to the ball stud. During the up and down movements of the link the drop of oil on the wick extending from the pipe 20 will be taken through the opening into the recess and thus the ball stud will be supplied with the lubricating oil at each reciprocation or as often as is necessary in order to properly lubricate the ball stud connection with the needle lever during the actuation of the machine.

There is another pipe 21 carried by the cap plate 11 and opening at the outer face thereof in a manner similar to the pipe 19. The lower end of this pipe 21 terminates adjacent the wick in the pipe 20 and is shaped so that when the parts are stopped with the link at the upper end of its stroke, oil may be fed through the pipe 21 and into the recess and thus to the ball stud so that the ball stud may be flooded with the lubricating oil.

From the above it will be apparent that an oiling system has been provided wherein the needle lever actuating parts may be flooded with oil prior to the starting of the machine, and wherein these parts will be automatically supplied with just a sufficient quantity of oil to keep the parts lubricated during the running of the machine. The automatic lubricating of the parts during the running of the machine by the aid of pipes provided with wicks is shown described and claimed in my copending application referred to above.

The present invention has particularly to do with the combined devices which permit not only the lubricating during run ning, but the independent flooding of the parts with lubricating oil before starting. It is obvious that the oiling system may be applied to other parts of a sewing machine for lubricating the same for starting and running.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without depart ing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An oiling system for sewing machines having connected actuating parts, means for supplying oil to lubricate the connection between said parts including a supply pipe, a Wick in said pipe and projecting from the end thereof, said pipe and Wick being so disposed relative to said connection that said connection While moving will take oil from said Wick, and a separate supply pipe for receiving lubricating oil, said supply pipe having a free opening therethrough to its discharge end disposed so as to supply oil directly to said connection when the parts are stopped in a predetermined position relative to said last-named pipe.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature. 2e NORMAN V. CHRISTENSEN. 

